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Fine motoring on

Fine motor skills are one of the major pillars on which a child’s development sits. From the time they are born they’re honing these skills – and they will always need a little bit of help from their parents.

These skills, the ones that use the smaller muscle groups like in the fingers and hands, and also involve good hand-eye coordination, form the basis of many of the skills that will help them successfully progress through childhood.

Fine motor skills are used in writing, drawing and craft, dressing themselves, feeding themselves and intricate play like using Lego, Play-Doh and colouring-in. These skills are seen as the essential precursors for the development of literacy and numeracy skills, as well as helping build confidence and self-esteem.

Children who can struggle with fine motor skills may opt to not take part in activities requiring them, says Sonja Walker*, director at Kids First Children's Services. “Fine motor skills allow children to develop an independence, so they can look after themselves, take themselves to the toilet, open their lunch boxes and put on their shoes,” adds Sonja.

Fine motor skills have also been highlighted as a robust predictor of academic performance. Several bodies of research have found as children use fine motor skills in schools for a lot of their lesson time, those students who are more comfortable doing these things will have more resources free to focus on classroom lessons. It is much easier to learn your alphabet and numbers if you have a good grasp of pencil use.

Other studies have also found that children who have well-developed motor skills at a young age are better able to navigate, manipulate and engage in their environments so they can take part in a greater range of life-learning experiences earlier in life.

Helping your kids

Okay, so there’s no argument about how vital fine motor skills are, how can mums and dads help their kids develop them? It’s by providing them with access to tools and experiences that encourage them to develop these skills – and also keeping n mind that children learn best when they are genuinely engaged in an activity.

Here are some suggested play activities and props:

Dress ups with different types of fastenings – zips, buttons, studs and Velcro

All sorts of drawing tools from chalk and crayon to pencils and paintbrushes

Utensils, cutlery and crockery for pretend play

Moulding materials like Play-Doh, clay and moulding sands

Construction materials like Lego or Mobilo

Craft tools like scissors and tweezers

Signs there may be difficulties

While there are checklists galore on what children should be doing when, Sonja reminds parents that there is a very broad range of normal. Nevertheless if a parent is concerned they should talk to their health professional. Here is a very broad guide on what to expect kids to be doing at certain ages:

6-12 months

Picking up small objects with thumb and one finger

Transferring objects from one hand to the other

Poking and pointing with index finger

1-2 years

Building a tower of three small blocks

Putting rings on a stick

Turning knobs

Bringing a spoon to mouth

Putting shapes into a shape sorter without assistance

2-3 years

Stringing three-to-four large beads

Holding a crayon with thumb and fingers

Completing insert puzzles

3-4 years

Copying a circle or imitating a cross

Tracing on thick lines

Dressing independently including large buttons, socks and shoes (but not tying shoelaces)